If anybody was still in doubt that Priti Patel is an insensitive bully, then those doubts should be dispelled now.
She has just tried to detain – in order to deport – two Muslim immigrants who had settled in Scotland, during a Muslim Festival: Eid al Fitr.
Some on the social media consider it an attempt to bully the Scottish people after they returned another SNP government to the Scottish Parliament and leader Nicola Sturgeon immediately announced that there will be another referendum on Scottish independence from the UK:
Priti Patel sending forces into arrest immigrants in Nicola Sturgeon's constituency.
We're going to see a lot more of the UK government throwing its weight around trying to intimidate the Scottish government and First Minister in their own backyard.
— Jon Jones (@JonJonesSnr) May 13, 2021
If it was, then it has backfired badly because Patel’s immigration officials were forced to release the men after hundreds of residents of Pollokshields in Glasgow surrounded the Border Agency van in Kenmure Street and refused to let it leave.
Officers said they were freeing the men for the safety of everyone involved following a stand-off in Glasgow that lasted for nearly eight hours.
The pair, both Indians, [had been] detained on suspicion of immigration offences and were released on bail pending further investigation.
Video clips on the social media show how public feeling against Priti Patel’s heavy-handed bullying grew, from this…
"These are our neighbours. Let them go!"
"These are our neighbours. Let them go!"Priti Patel's hostile environment vs a community that stands up for friends and neighbours.
Kenmure Street in Pollokshields, Glasgow. https://t.co/t8rcedsYii
— Top News (@TopNewsWorks) May 13, 2021
… to this, as the men were released:
Priti Patel this is Scotland https://t.co/leNh6pzmQx
— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) May 13, 2021
And opponents of Patel and her continuation of the Tory government’s illegal “hostile environment” policy have made their feelings clear:
Priti Patel may bully her staff, but Glasgow will not be bullied. #RefugeesWelcome
— BothwellIndependista (@arichmondScot) May 13, 2021
Priti Patel really did mess with the wrong city.
Glasgow, we love you.
Could any city be more awesome?#GlasgowSaysLetThemGo #Glasgow
— Katy (@KatyJayne101) May 13, 2021
People of Glasgow win.
Detainees released.
WELL DONE GLASGOW!
Love the banner – 'IF THIS IS TEAM UK, WE REJECT IT'.
Hope you're watching, Priti Patel.
— Jon Jones (@JonJonesSnr) May 13, 2021
Sadly, we know Patel will not learn from her mistake. This message strikes as being all-too-accurate:
Waiting for Priti Patel to tweet “Disgraceful scenes in Glasgow. Thugs who prevent our brave police officers from removing undesirables from our streets will not be tolerated. Justice will follow.”
— Jason Okundaye (@jasebyjason) May 13, 2021
One other person will be regretting the incident, despite the fact that his heart was in the right place: Howard Beckett, candidate for leadership of the UK’s biggest trade union, Unite.
Mr Beckett tweeted in anger when the situation in Glasgow became clear, and his words were ill-chosen, for the reasons described in Owen Jones’s tweet:
This is a truly disgraceful tweet.
Yes, Priti Patel is a migrant and refugee bashing reactionary.
Anyone calling for a person of colour to be deported – regardless of their political record – doesn’t understand racism, at best, and needs a lot of education, to say the least. pic.twitter.com/DvCskBv6hg
— Owen Jones 🌹 (@OwenJones84) May 13, 2021
But the Unite leadership candidate recognised this, acknowledged it, deleted his tweet and apologised:
My earlier tweet, deleted after half an hour, was never intended to be literal. My intention was to emphasise that racist policies should be rejected & have no place in society. The wording was wrong, offensive & I apologise unreservedly to Priti Patel. No one should be deported.
— Howard Beckett (@BeckettUnite) May 13, 2021
He then (rightly) published further messages attacking Patel’s shockingly inappropriate and oppressive behaviour:
Refugees attacked by the arm of the State.
Add Glasgow to Bristol & Clapham.
Priti Patel’s institutional racist agenda.
Stand with refugees, travellers, black lives matter.
Pick a side.
— Howard Beckett (@BeckettUnite) May 13, 2021
Priti Patel message on Eid al Fitr is to deport Muslim refugees. Those who have been forced to flee war zones.
We are seeing appalling institutional racism again and again from the supposed pillars of the British elite.
Our society should have no place for racism, at all.
— Howard Beckett (@BeckettUnite) May 13, 2021
While his initial message was wrong in the language and concepts it used, it would have been equally wrong for him to back away from the issue after realising his mistake.
By the same token, it would also be wrong for anybody watching and commenting on what happened (Owen Jones take notice) to side with Patel against Beckett because of it:
Public service announcement: if you are now siding with Priti Patel against Howard Beckett, you are not the anti-racist you think you are.
— CrémantCommunarde#ActivistLawyer 🕊️⚖️ 🟠⬆️ (@0Calamity) May 13, 2021
If either of them is a racist, it could only be Priti Patel.
Source: Immigration officials release two men after crowds block van | The Independent
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